Roller supporting and adjusting means for buckle-type sheet folding machine



p 9, 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR. ETAL 3,150,871

ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FDLDING MACHINE 18 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1961 INVENTORS.

HARRY BOBL/T. JR.

BY RONALD E. BOBLIT MAHONEY, MILLER & RAMBO BY M% ATTORNEYS.

Sept 29 1964 H V V BOBLIT, JR, 1

ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUE'ITIQIG- MEANS FOR 50871 BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING M C Filed July 11, 1961 A HINE 18 Sheets-Sheet 2 {*3 A T l INVENTORS. HARRY BOBLIT. JR. BY RONALD E. BOBL/T MAHONEY, MILLER & RAMBO A TTORNEYS.

P 29, 1964 H. soau'r, JR.. ETAL 3,150,871

ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. HARRY BOBL/T, JR.

LIT BY RONALDE BOB MAHONEY. MILLER & RAMBO BY I M: 1-1 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 9, 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR.. ETAL 3,150,871

ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR 7 BUCKLE'TYPE'SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet 4 HARRY BOBL/T. JR. RONALD E. BOBLIT ATTORNEYS.

p 1964 H. BOBLIT. JR.. ETAL 3,150,871

' ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.

HARRY BOB/Jr, JR.

BY RONALD E. BOBL/T MAHONEY MIL ER & RAMBO BY M M1 ATTORNEYS P 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR. ETAL 3,150,871

ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11. 1961 1a Sheets-Sheet s l/ lf/77a,

INVENTORS. HARRY BOBL/T, JR.

MAHONEY, MILLER & RAM

ATTORNEYS.

P 9, 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR.. ETAL 3,150,871

ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FQLDING MACHINE Flled July 11, 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS. HARRY BOBLIT. JR. RONALD E. BOBLIT MAHONEY, MILLER 8. RAMBO Sept 29 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR.. ET 3150 ROLLggcgggPgggNG AND ADJUSTIQg MEANS FOR SHEET F0 D Filed July 11. 1961 L M MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet 8 l I I Q l 2 ll i I e e :1 1 1 3 I \h I $1 1 I I I I Q? R l k l I l I l i 1: m y l, l :I l 1 Fl 2 i: 1 mmvrons. J J m HARRY BOBL/T, JR. BY RONALD E. BOBLIT ATTORNEYS.

p 1964 H- BOBLIT, JR'.. ETAL 3,150,371

ROLLER SUPPQRTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FGLD'ING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1961 18-Sheets-Sheet 9 4 II ll g1 N J INVENT $5 N HARRYDBgBBLgLJI? RONAL :5 BY la MAHONEY. MILLER & RAMBO ATTORNE Y5.

Sept 29 1964 H. BOBLIT JR.. ET 31508 1 ROLLER SUPPORTING AliD ADJUSTIQL? MEANS FOR 7 BUCKLE-TYPE 'SHEET FOLDING MACHINE T5" 15 15 E INVENTORS.

' HARRY BOBL/T, JR. RONALD E. BOBL/T MAHONEY, MILLER & RAMBO ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 29, 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR.. ETAL ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE l8 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed July 11, 1961 ens 2 INVENTORS.

HARRY BOBLIT, JR.

RONALD E. BOBL/T MAHONEY. MILLER & RAMBO ATTORNEYS.

p 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR.. ETAL 3,150,871

ROLLER SUPPQRTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1961 1a Sheets-Sheet 12 E15 m 10 g HARRY BOBLI'T, JR. RONALD E. BOBL/T MAHONE Y, MILLER & RAM 0 ATTORNE Y5.

pt. 29, 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR.. ETAL 3,150,871

ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11. 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet 15 mmvroas. HARRY BOBLIT, JR. RONALD EBOBLIT BY MAHONEY.-M/LLER& R MBO ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 29, 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR.. ETAL 3,150,871

ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11. 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTORS. HARRY BOBL/T. JR. RONALD E. BOBLIT 'MAHONEY, MILLER & RAMBQ A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 29, 1964 ROLLER sum H BOBLIT, JR. ETAL ORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11. 1951 18 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTORS. HARRY BOBL/T. JR. RONALD E. BOBL/T BY MAHONEY,MILLER& R 80 ATTORNEYS.

p 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR.. ETAL. 3,150,871

ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet l6 4/ 73a in, l

INVENTORS.

HARRY BOBLIT, JR. 74 BY RONALD E. BOBLIT 321. 35 MAHONEY. MILLER & RAMBO ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 29, 1964 H. aoau'r, JR.. ETAL ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 18' Sheets-$beet 17 Filed July 11, 1961 &

INVENTORS. HARRY BOBL/T, JR. BY RONALD E. BOBL/ T MAHONE-Y MILLER& RA BO ATTORNEYS.

P 1964 H. BOBLIT, JR.. ETAL ROLLER SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING MEANS FOR BUCKLE-TYPE SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1961 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 INVENTORS.

HARRY BOBLIT, JR.

RONALD E. BOBL/T MAHONEY, ILLER & RAMBO BY 2 M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent SUFI QRTING AND ADEIETKNG MEANS FUR EEIJCKLETY FQLDING MACHINE Harry Bohlit, I12, I63 fin, Sidney, Ulric, and Ronald E, Boirlit, Sidney, @hio 1 Quincy, Ghio) Filed .l'uiy ll, lfidl, Ser. No. 123,157 Ill Qlaims. (El. 27%68) Our invention relates to a buckle-type sheet folding machine. In general, this type of machine embodies means for producing a buckling action on sheets of paper or other similar material to form parallel folds therein.

More specifically, this type of paper folding machine includes a feeding unit, a folding unit, and a delivery unit. The feeding unit serves to feed sheets of paper successively into the folding unit. The folding unit receives such sheets successively and produces in each successive sheet the selected number of folds in parallel relationship. The folding unit consists of a plurality of feeding and folding rollers arranged in successive pairs, the rollers of each pair cooperating with each other to feed the sheets therebetween. Associated with each pair of rollers for receiving the sheet therefrom is a fold plate or pan having an adjustable stop bar thereon. As the sheet is fed between the rollers of a pair, it enters into the associated fold plate or pan and its free end engages the stop bar thereon. Continued feeding of the sheet causes it to buckle and the next pair of rollers is so arranged that it receives the buckled portion and as it passes between such rollers forms a permanent crease or fold therein. From the second pair of rollers the folded end of the sheet is fed into another fold plate or pan into arrangement with the stop bar thereof and another buckle is produced, the buckled portion being fed between the next two folding rollers. This operation is repeated over and over depending upon the number of sets of rollers and associated fold plates which are provided in the folding unit which is determined by the number of folds it is desired to produce in each sheet of paper. The folded sheets are received from the folding unit by the delivery unit from which they may be removed.

The main object of this invention is to provide a buckle-type paper folding machine which is improved in many respects with regard to prior art machines of this general type so that it will operate more elfectively to receive a pile of sheets of paper to be folded, fan the sheets and align them to properly position each succe sive sheet for the feeding operation, positively feed each sheet through the various folding rollers and associated buckle plates while keeping the sheet properly aligned to produce accurate folds in parallel relationship, and delivering and stacking the folded sheets for removal from the machine. Our machine is so designed that all necessary adjustments can be made with ease and without tools. These adjustments include adjustments necessary for the machine to operate on sheets of paper of various thicknesses and to vary the gripping action thereon, adjustments necessary for the machine to operate on various widths of paper sheets to be folded, adjustments necessary for the machine to operate on various lengths of sheet to be folded, adjustments necessary for the machine to produce different numbers of folds in the sheets, etc. The machine of our invention is also so designed that it is very rugged and is extremely compact both as to length and width as well as to overall height. Many other objects and advantages of our machine will appear as this description progresses.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a folding machine of the buckle-type embodying the various improvements according to our invention.

3,l59,$?l Patented Sept. 29, 1964 ice In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the buckle folding machine;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the folding machine taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 at the feeding and delivery end of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a partially schematic side elevational view of the folding machine with portions of a guard cut away showing the driving mechanism for the feeding and folding rollers and taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the folding machine taken at the opposite side with portions of the guard cut away showing the adjusting mechanism for the feeding and folding rollers and taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line d5 of FIG. 2 at the longitudinal center line of the machine;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and showing the roller driving mechanism;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3 and showing details of the roller adjusting mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail in elevation taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged diagrammatic top plan View, partly broken away, of the feed table showing the adjustable guide rails thereof taken along line 1il19 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of parts of the roller drive clutch of the feed unit;

FIG. 11a is a sectional detail of the ratchet teeth assembly of the clutch taken on line 11a-11a of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a sectional detail of the ratchet pawl assembly of the clutch taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12a is a detail in perspective of the ratchet pawl of the clutch;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the fold pans and the locking pins taken along line 1313 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line I4-14 of FIG. 3, showing one of the fold pans;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14 showing a stop bar mounting bracket;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line lei-16 of FIG. 14 showing a feed screw mounting bracket;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 1'7-I7 of FIG. 14 and showing details of one of the fold pans and stop bars;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 18-I3 of FIG. 3 and showing the stacking conveyor of the delivery unit;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 19-49 of FIG. 18 and showing the roller tensioning mechanism of the stacking conveyor;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2;@-2il of FIG. 18 and showing the stacking conveyor friction roller and sheet-engaging fingers;

FIG. 21 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 18 and showing the driving roller and tensionin roller of the stacking conveyor;

FIG. 22 is a vertical sectional view of a fold pan and the associated feeding and folding rollers with a deflector plate positioned in the fold pa n;

FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of the feeding and folding rollers and the fold pans showing a sheet of paper being fed into the first fold pan by the first pair of the feeding and folding rollers;

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIGURE 23 but showing the first fold being made in the sheet of paper as it is drawn between the second pair of the feeding and folding rollers;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIGURE 24 but showing the second fold being made in the sheet of paper as it is drawn between the third pair of feeding and folding rollers;

FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 25 showing the third fold beingmade in the sheet of paper as it is drawn between the fourth pair of feeding and folding rollers;

FIG. 27 is a view similar to FIG. 26 showing the completely folded sheet of paper being'removed by the staclo ing conveyor and asecond sheet of paper being fed into the first fold pan by the first pair of the feeding and folding rollers;

FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic sectional View similar to FIG. 25 but showing a deflector plate positioned within the first fold pan and a first fold being made in a sheet of paper as it is drawn between the third pair of rollers;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the deflector plate;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a sheet of paper having three parallel transverse folds as folded by our complete machine;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a sheet of paper having two parallel transverse folds as folded by our machine with a deflector plate positioned within one of the fold pans;

FIG. 32 is a detail in enlarged section of a pin and notch connection on the fold pan taken along .ine 3232 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 33 is a diagrammatic sectional detail of the friction feed-roller and the retarder of the feed unit showing a stack'of sheet paper being fanned by the retarder block;

FIG. 34 is a plan view of the mechanism for supporting and adjusting the retarder of the feed unit;

FIG. 35 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 35-35 of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a side elevational view of a modification of our buckle folding machine with portions of a guard cut away showing the driving mechanism for the feeding and folding rollers; and

FIG. 37 is a side elevational view of the modification of the buckle folding machine of FIG. 36 taken at the opposite side of the machine with portions of a guard cut away showing the roller adjusting mechanism for the feeding and folding rollers.

With reference to the drawings, FIGURES l to illustrate the generalarrangement of a machine in which our invention is embodied. It includes mainly a feed unit 41, a folding unit 42, and a delivery unit 43. All of these units are supported in proper association with each other by the frame 44.

The folding machine of ourinvention is designed to produce a series of successive folds in a sheet of paper that is fed thereinto. These folds will be formed transversely of the sheet of paper in exact parallel relationship. The machine illustrated in the drawings and described hereinafter, as an example of our invention, is designed to produce in thesheet S the three folds I, II, and III, as shown in FIGURE 30. However, by a simple insertion of a deflector in one of the fold plates or pans, the ma chinemay be modified to produce in the sheet S only the two folds Ia and Ila, as shown in FIGURE 31. If a dedebtor is inserted in each of two of the fold plates, the machine may bemodified to make a single fold.

The frame 44 preferably oflightweight metal, such as aluminum and is suitably rigidly fabricated. However, for illustration, we have shownit as comprising mainly the vertical or upright side plates 45 and 4-6 which extend the length of the machine forwardly and rearwardly thereof and aredisposed in laterally spaced parallel re-- lationship. The forward end of the machine will be considered that end where the feed unit ll is disposed since that is the feeding or inlet end for the paper,'although the delivery or outlet unit 43 is located at the same end. By

til.

having the unit 43 at the same end as the unit 4-1, it is unnecessary to reach over the machine to remove the folded sheets since they are delivered directly below the unit 41. The plates 4-5 and 46 are held in spaced parallel relationship by various rods 47a or other transversely extending braces and by various functional members of the machine such as fold plates, feeding and folding rollers and associated axles, shafts, etc. as will appear later.

The feed unit 41 is illustrated best in FIGURES l, 2, 5, 10, and 33. It comprises an inwardly and downwardly inclined feed table 5t which is in the form of a plate which is mainly flat and which has the downturned flanges 51 along its opposed parallel side edges and a downturned flange 51a at its outer edge. The feed table has its lower or inner portion positioned between the side plates 45 and as and its upper portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the side plates. The lower portion is fastoned rigidly to the side plates by means of he bolts 52 (FIGURE 10). A supporting brace 51b (FIGURE 5) isprovided adjacent the inner portion of the feed table 50 and its ends are fastened to the side plates 45 and id. The table Sil is provided with the laterally adjustable paper guide rails 53 which extend the full length thereof and project outwardly and upwardly beyond the corresponding edge thereof. These rails 53 are in the form of angles and the lower flange of the angle rests on the table and extends laterally inwardly whereas the other flange is upright. The rails 53 are mounted on the table 5% for lateral adjustment by means of guide blocks 54 which are positioned for movement in a guide slot 55 formed in the table transversely thereof intermediate its inner and outer edges. These guide blocks 54 are slidably mounted on a supporting rod which is positioned below the slot 55. The rails 5.3 may be fastened to the blocks 54 by means of screws 57 and the blocks may be secured in adjusted position'along the rod 56 by means of setscrews 53( FIGURE 2) which are tapped upwardly therethrough and may be adjusted to engage the rod 56. The upper portions of the rails 53 have additional guide blocks 59 (FIGURE 16) attached thereto by means of the screws tb for engaging the associated outer edge of the table 5%. Thus, the rails 53 are mounted on the table for lateral adjustment relative to each other and can be clamped in any desired spaced relationship to receive sheets of various widths.

At the lower or inner end of the table 5%} there is provided positive feeding means for feeding successive shee. from any stack or pile positioned on the table 56. This positive feeding means is in the form of a feed roller 65 carried midway of the ends of a driven shaft 66 positioned adjacent the inner or lower end of the 59 and carried rotatably in bearings 67 (FIGURE 10) provided on the plates 45 and 46. At each side of the roller es, the shaft carries idler roller discs 65a which also engage the sheets to hold them flat as they are being successively fed by the roller 65'. The roller discs 65a preferably are metal and the roller 65' preferably includes a friction surface such as rubber. The roller 65 and discs dfia are concentric and are of substantially the same diameter so that all will engage each successive sheet simultaneously.

Associated with the feed roller 55 is a retarder cam '74? which cooperates with the roller 65 to fan out the sheets of a pile supported on theinclined feed table as indicated in FIGURE 33. To function in this manner, the retarder 7G is in the form of a disc or wheel although it could be a segmental member. The details of this retarder and its mounting are shown in FIGURES 34 and 35. The wheel is preferably provided with a friction surface, such as rubber, and is disposed within a clamping support 71 on a clamping bolt 72 which also serves as its axle. By loosening the bolt 72, the retarder wheel can be rotated to different positions to compensate for wear on its surface and can again be clamped in position 

1. IN A FOLDING MACHINE OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED, FOLDING MECHANISM INCLUDING A FRAME, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF CONTACTING FOLDING ROLLERS, A SHAFT CARRYING EACH OF SAID ROLLERS, BEARINGS SUPPORTING EACH ROLLER SHAFT AT BOTH ENDS FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT, SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE BEARINGS OF ONE ROLLER SHAFT OF EACH PAIR FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING RADIALLY EXTENDING GUIDEWAYS ON SAID FRAME AND BEARING GUIDES OPERATING THEREIN TO SUPPORT ONE ROLLER SHAFT FOR MOVEMENT RADIALLY RELATIVE TO THE OTHER SHAFT, ROTATABLE CAMS FOR ACTING ON SAID GUIDES IN SAID GUIDEWAYS, SAID CAMS HAVING CONTINUOUS CAM SURFACES FOR GRADUAL ADJUSTMENT OF SAID GUIDES, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING ALL OF SAID CAMS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO SIMULTANEOUSLY ADJUST ALL OF SAID GUIDES RADIALLY IN SAID GUIDEWAYS. 